I’ve never thought of it in this way specifically but this is exactly why our situation works. My husband makes 2x as much as I do but my job is way more flexible. I can always take time away to go pick up sick kiddo, run to doctors appointments, go to school activities etc. I can take last minute PTO. I can request off PTO and run into the negative if I don’t have enough saved up. I can definitely make more if I change companies but I would definitely lose this flexibility.